Conversations with the Inspiring Journey Bowman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Journey Bowman.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a young girl, I’ve always taken interest in modeling, as a young girl, my grandmother and mom would always dress me up in cute outfits and tell me to stand in front of the nearest prop. As I progressed from a young child to a young adult, I took a liking to magazines like BET and Vogue or even Dazed and seeing women dressed up all pretty and with super dope outfits. I remember always having a wanting to do the same as the ladies I would point out to friends and family, and I’d think to myself like I want to do what they’re doing! But I never had the true confidence to do it up until about three years ago, I would post pictures on Instagram and everyone would always tell me: Journey, you have such a different look and I said you know what, I’m gonna try the modeling thing. I started posting pictures that I’d take with local photographers in urban fashion or vintage fashion clothing. I’ve always taken hold to the more urban side of fashion because I always felt you could express yourself more than normal fashion, and it stuck with me and ever since then, I’ve had a passion for modeling. I fell in love with the idea and the struggles that come with it, I dropped out of Scottsdale community to do modeling full time (everyone thought I was crazy) and even though it is harder for me being a plus size African American female model, I love it. I model because it is a way for me to express myself through photos. I can be anyone I wanna be in front of the camera and also encourage other plus-size models that modeling isn’t just one size, one face it’s universal.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I want young women to know that they are beautiful the way they are in today’s age. I feel like girls feel as if they have to be someone else to love themselves or for others to love them. When I started to see differences in my look, my height, and color. Growing up, I thought I was ugly or I’d never have the same opportunity than the next girl that was skinnier or just a little thicker than me with perfect body shape, I always stood out kids would always make fun of me and call me mean names or even remarks about my race. As time went on, I developed a lot of self-confidence in myself by spending time alone and doing my make up or even dancing or posing in the mirror. I started to realize being different wasn’t bad but it was actually an advantage that I was gifted with and I want girls to create that self-love as well. I understood I was different because I would do differently than others, and I feel like females being able to see a young girl like me strive for her dreams black, white or yellow, will encourage girls to never give up, no matter how hard it is and to always trust in themselves and not have to look at other girls or other people’s lives to feel recognized or loved.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m known as a freelance model. As of right now, I model for local photographers with branding myself and getting better at my craft. In the soon future, I pray to be signed with some of the top agencies in the world to brand myself as a commercial/print model for big brands. I believe what sets me apart from others is how I carry myself, I believe I am a very positive humble person that can encourage anyone in making something great out of themselves or simply making them laugh in my presence, as well as my outgoing personality. What also sets me apart from others is my hard work and my outstanding beliefs in God. I don’t think there’s a lot of genuine people that want to help others like me and truly see people strive and grow in the industry of entertainment. I believe I can bring light to everyone that I shoot or model because of just how vibrant I am.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
One of the top women that have inspired men in my modeling walk would have to be my mother when I was going through all of the bullying and self-doubt stages and even when I doubt myself now, my mom always reminds me that I am a beautiful person inside and out and I can be anything and everything I want to be and not to let people bring me down, to be above ignorance and keep my head held high. I don’t believe I would be in this position if it wasn’t for her, reminding me those everyday things shes always been my number 1 fan when I had no one and picked me up when I fell and told me to keep going.

Now, for who I look up to in modeling, I would have to say a model that goes by the name of SALEM, she was bullied for her uniqueness, she’s broken so many barriers for young black women in the industry and I wanna be right beside her doing the same thing!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 4802519236
• Email: lifesajourney17@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifesajourney17/
• Other: portfolio —> https://www.behance.net/lifesajourc519

Image Credit:
INSTAGRAM: ASHLYARTS, INSTAGRAM: SMALLEROCEAN

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